Keeping Away the Winter Blues

The winter can be a tough time for folks. The cold, loss of daylight and having to be cooped up inside all day leads some people to develop what is known as seasonal affective disorder, or better known as the “winter blues.” They start feeling lethargic, low on energy, socially withdrawn and just generally crummy and sad.

Whether you suffer from the seasonal winter blues or know someone who does, it’s not a great time and it can hit some people harder than others.

Thankfully, all is not lost. There are some easy ways to make yourself feel better during the winter, whether you are suffering from the winter blues or want to keep them away.

Get out of the house

One of the biggest causes of winter blues is simply being stuck indoors. It’s understandable since there is not a lot of sunshine to enjoy. But still, it’s important that you down get trapped.

Even though the weather outside is frightful, there is still plenty of beauty to be found. The brilliantly white snow, the different colored leaves, the frozen water – there is beauty everywhere every season.

Go for a walk. Bundle up and play with your kids out in the snow. Build a snowman. Make a snow angel. Anything that gets you out of the house, moving around and getting plenty of fresh air is great for your mind and body.

Start a new hobby

Keeping your mind occupied and your hands busy during the winter months is an easy way to maintain good mental health. So why not pick up a new hobby?

Gardening is a wonderful hobby to pick up, and you don’t need to be outside working in the dirt to do it. We wrote a blog last year on how to get your indoor garden started. A garden can help you mentally by giving you a feeling of accomplishment as you grow beautiful plants and vegetables.

Winter is the perfect time to learn a new skill or hobby, maybe there is even one you’ve been wanting to learn for awhile. Start with something simple, maybe knitting, sewing, crocheting, writing or anything else that comes to mind.

Eat healthy

One of the best ways to feel good physically and mentally is to eat right. Fatty or sugary foot can make you feel tired and sluggish which can also make you feel fatigued mentally. As tempting as it may be, this is a particularly important time of year to stay away from these kinds of foods. Especially since your amount of exercise may drop in the winter.

Instead, focus on eating foods that are high in protein, vitamins and nutrients. Beans are the perfect component of a winter diet! Healthy, delicious, filling and extremely versatile, beans are capable of keeping you full and healthy all winter long. Make sure you stock up on enough jars of Randall Beans to get you through the winter and grab a copy of one of our free cookbooks for some healthy and delicious winter recipes such as Winter Warmers, Casseroles & Cassoulets, Crock Pot Classics or Sensational Soups.

Cooking is another very healthy activity to take up during the winter as well.

Stay active

Very much like eating right, exercising can also keep your mind and body right. Used in combination, you’ll be able to easily get through the winter in good spirits.

It’s true, finding the right place to get your exercise in during the winter can be a little bit harder. But, it isn’t impossible.

The most obvious and easiest way to get exercise in the winter is to hit the gym. Now is the perfect time of year to get or renew your gym subscription. You could also invest in a home gym system or treadmill for your exercising needs.

Want some cheaper methods of exercise? Check out our blog post full of ideas.

Ready to start planning your picnic? Just don’t forget the Randall Great Northern White Beans! Check your local grocery store or if you can’t find them you can always have these delicious beans in a jar shipped straight to you from our online store.